Campus Kitchen students hold a range of interests: we’ve met marketing majors, public health students, political science junkies, and literature gurus.

After that initial Campus Kitchen volunteer cooking shift, there’s one more interest that reverberates across all Campus Kitchen volunteers: a passion for, or interest in, food.

It’s something about suiting up in hairnets, aprons, and gloves and digging into “secret” ingredients Iron Chef-style that permeates every regular Campus Kitchen volunteer, makes him into a foodie, or food activist, community gardener, food event planner, or kitchen liaison.

For most, the marriage of academia and food will halt with graduation, at the end of Campus Kitchen involvement.

But thanks to a growing national interest in food, universities are starting to offer accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs that focus on food, food systems, and community food solutions.

The Sustainable Food Jobs blog recently published a detailed list of all degree programs food lovers and food policy-shakers can get their spatulas into. We chose to highlight the details of three of the graduate programs they profiled (given that most Campus Kitchen volunteers are already in undergraduate programs.)

Take a whiff of the interesting world of food study in higher education. Tell us you’re not hungry for more.

Seattle, Washington/Antioch University– Master of Arts in Environment and Community with a specialty in Sustainable Food Systems

What you are studying: Food from soil to plate, following the social, ecological and political issues of food systems

Recommended for: People working in organic farming, permaculture, ecological agriculture, urban and rural sustainability, community supported agriculture and food services.

Favorite class: Political Ecology of Eating and Consumption

Department: Center for Creative Change – the name itself gets points!

An Alternative: You can also choose to get just your certificate in Sustainable Food Systems

Boston, Massachusetts/Boston University – Master of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy

What you are studying: Offers a holistic view looking at food throughout history and in contemporary society

Coolest part: They have culinary arts laboratories and wine studies courses

Favorite FAQ: Do you eat in class?

Answer: Yes, we very often eat in class! Cooking, sharing, and hospitality are major elements of experiencing food culture. Students and faculty alike bring theme-related dishes to class to share during breaks. Other courses take food-related field trips or have meals together outside the classroom. We learn much about our fellow students including how well they cook!

Awesome, Campus Kitchen-friendly, Concentration: Food Policy

Also: They accept students and rolling deadlines and hold courses at night

Portland, Oregon/Portland State University – MBA in Food Marketing and Logistics

What you are studying: The program helps you “understand the industry structure, key players and value chain” of food

Core Courses: Purchasing and Logistics in the Food Industry and Consumer Product Marketing

Favorite Elective: “Negotiations”

Study Abroad Option: Tuscany : Sustainability in City and County

For a complete listing of programs, click here.

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